India sends SCI officials to Iran to resolve tanker deadlock

NEW DELHI: After failing to convince Tehran to release its oil tanker, which was detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards on August 13, India has sent officials of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to Iran.

"The team aims to set at rest the technical issue of Desh Shanthi not being involved in the environmental pollution," said a senior government source, adding it will clarify how it is not possible at all for ship to have been near where the pollution is said to have taken place on July 30.

The ship is still at the Bandar Abbas port where it has been subjected to two rounds of inspection by Iranian authorities. The ship was carrying 140,000 tonnes of crude from Iraq when it was detained.

SCI, which is the owner of the ship, has already declared that there is no question of Desh Shanti polluting Iranian waters as it had already been inspected by Port State Control authorities in both Iraq and Iran. Despite hectic diplomatic activities in both Delhi and Tehran for the past seven days, Iran has continued to insist that the ship caused "widespread pollution". Top sources here maintain that what Iran has done is an unfriendly act. Iran's officials have said that protection and indemnity insurance must be paid to secure the release of the vessel.